Floor cleaning device



arch 1950 E. FELLMA'N ETAL FLOOR CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1948EVA/V L. FELL MAN Arum/Er."

Patented Mar. l4, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOOR CLEANINGDEVICE Application June 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,294

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a simple form of floor cleaning andmaintenance device and more particularly is an improvement on the floorcleaning implement disclosed in the copending application of Frank H.Lyons, and Jacob F. Ferdon, Serial No. 740,550, filed April 10, 1947.The floor cleaning implement disclosed in the aforementioned applicationcomprises a handled rigid backing member having a cushioning fibrousunder surface and a metallic wool pad detachably secured to the backingmember in overlying frictional engagement with said under surface. Theimplement is used in conjunction with liquid cleaning and maintainingcompositions on the surface of wood, linoleum, and other floors. Thecleaning composition with which the implement is intended to be usedincludes a wax or waxes suspended in petroleum and/or coal tar solventsand is nonaqueous in character.

Although the above described device has proved to be highly efiicientand satisfactory for the use intended, we have found that equivalentresults are obtained with our implement, which not only can bemanufactured more easily but also more cheaply. Among the improvementsof our implement may be mentioned a lower cost of manufacturing thecushioning under surface and the use of a smaller quantity of bindingstrip material, which is employed to secure the wool pad to the backingmember.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a floorcleaning implement, of the type described, with a backing member havingrelatively inexpensive cushioning means that effectively frictionallyengages the metallic wool pad.

Another object of this invention is to provide a floor cleaningimplement of the type described that employs a minimum amount of bindingstrip material.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved floorcleaning device that may be manufactured easily and cheaply.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the component partsof a floor cleaning device which embodies this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembled device. A part of the implementis cutaway and another part is shown in an intermediate stage'ofassembly in order to show details more clearly.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing several modifications of anelement of the device;

Referring now to-the drawings, it will be" seen III that the floorcleaning implement of this invention comprises two main parts namely, areplaceable metallic wool pad assembly, indicated generally at It inFigure 1, and a handled rigid backing member, indicated generally at l lin Figure 2. The pad Ill and backing member I l are shown as generallyrectangular in shape. This shape is not critical, however, but merelypreferable.

The backing member I l comprises a plate-like member I2 formed of sheetmetal, preferabl a strong light metal, such as light gauge sheet steel.The member l2 has separate depending side and end flanges l3 and I4,respectively, of substantially equal depth. These depending flanges forma cavity l5 beneath the plate-like member l2. Fitted in the cavity I5 isa block it of relatively stifi fibrous material which is somewhatresilient and has a rather rough yielding surface that results from itsfibrous composition. We have found that fiber board, made fromcompressed coarse cellulose fibers is a suitable material. Examples ofsuch fiber board are Celotex, which is made from bagasse, and Masonite,which is made from exploded wood fibers. In addition, we have foundbalsa wood to be a satisfactory material for the block Hi. The block,when formed of such materials, is relatively rigid yet light in weight,somewhat resilient, and also has a yielding surface; Furthermore, suchmaterial is inexpensive. The thickness of the block I6 isslightlygreater than the depth' of the cavity l5 so that the blockprojects slightl therefrom.

It has'been found that the combination of a layer of metallic woolbacked by fiber board, balsa wood or other material having the desirablecharacteristics outlined above, possesses desirable characteristics fora floor cleaning implement for use with many of the available liquidfloor cleaning compositions. The metallic wool not only provides a mildabrasive action that is necessary to thoroughly loosen the surface dirt,but, being, non-absorbent of the cleaning composition used, does notbecomes unduly matted and caked with dirt and other foreign matter inuse. The yielding somewhat rough surface of the fibrous backing materialinterengages the wool filaments to retain the wool pad in fiat workingposition on the implement without relative slipping or sliding.Furthermore, such interengagement prevents the wool from separating androlling up in use, thus effectively preserving the useful life of thepad. At the same time, the fibrous-backing material provides a cushionfor the wool pad that is sumciently resilient to preclude the latterfrom marring the finish of the floor, while permitting the wool to reachand clean all surface depressions or uneven spots that may be found on afloor. It also has been found that even though such a fibrous backingabsorbs the liquid cleaning composition to some extent, the solvents inthe composition rapidly evaporate leaving a residue which is notdetrimental to the effectiveness of the backing. Furthermore, thebacking is self cleaning in that evaporation of the solvents of theabsorbed cleaning composition releases any dirt and other foreign matterthat has been mixed with the composition. Accordingly, the backingmaterial does not deteriorate in use.

The end flanges I4 of theplate-like member l2' have extensions I! thatproject beyond the ends of the side flanges I3 and are folded backagainst the outer face or the side flanges (asshown in Figure 2). Eachextension IIhas a struck-out inwardly extending spur I8. The spurs I8project through corresponding openings I9 in the The top of theplate-like member I2 is provided with apivotally attached handle 20 ofsufiicient length to enable the operator of the implement, while usingit, to stand erect. The handle 20 is attached to the member 12 by aconnecting member 2| provided with a handle receiving socket 22 and atransverse pivot pin 23. Bearing brackets 24, which are fastened to themember I2, as by bolts or rivets 25, receive the opposite ends of thepivot pin 23. The handle 20 may be secured in the socket 22 by anyconventional means, but preferably cooperating threads are provided onboth elements for ready attachment and detachment. Thus, the handle 20is secured to the platelike member I2 for pivotal movement in alongitudinal plane. The sheet metal member l2 may haveribs 26 stampedtherein to provide-added stiffness. From this construction, it isevident that the implement is intended to be used with a reciprocatingmotion, which is of substantial importance, as later explained.

The replaceable pad assembly IIl =preferably is substantially the sameas that disclosed in the copending application of C. Arthur Bruce andFrank H. Lyons, filed August 26,1946, Serial No. 693,144., now PatentNo. 2,497,206, issued Feb; 14, 1950, to which reference is made for amore detailed description. In general, the pad assembly comprises asubstantially rectangular pad or mat of one or more layers of metallicwool 21. The

wool 21 may be reinforced against separating or rolling up in use byseveral rows of transverse stitching 28. Each end of the pad has bindingor stiffening means applied thereto to enable the pad to be attached inworking position on the backing member II. As shown in the drawings, thebinding means comprises tabs 29 of relatively stiff sheet material, suchas cardboard or the like, which are folded over the ends of the woolpad, and suitably secured thereto, as by stitching or staples 3Il. steelwool of N0. 00. grade, although any grade from No. 00 to No. 1, or amixture of such grades, will produce effective results. Woolofnon-rusting metals may be employed, however, inthe event-thataqueouscleaning'compositions are to The metallic wool 21 preferably istil be used therewith. The filaments of each layer of wool in the padare arranged generally in parallelism and each layer is so oriented thatthe filaments thereof extend substantially longitudinally of the pad.Preferably, the filamentary angle is about 17 to the longitudinal, forreasons explained more fully in both of the aforementioned copendingapplications. If the pad has two or more layers of wool, the filamentsin one layer preferably lie at an angle to the filaments in the adjacentlayer.

Overlying the outer face of each end flange I4 is a flexible bindingstrip 3|. The strip 3i preferably is of material that will notdeteriorate in the presence of the liquid cleaning composition used orelse is treated, as with sizing or the like, to prevent suchdeterioration. It has been found that Koroseal, a synthetic material(plasticized polyvinyl chloride) produced by the B. F. Goodrich Companyis quite suitable. The binding strip material should provide sufficientfriction to retain the tabs 29 of the pad I9 in place, as laterdescribed, and be resilient enough to provide a bumper cushion, in orderto prevent marring of furniture upon accidental contact of the implementtherewith, during its reciprocating movement over the surface of afioor.Each binding strip 3i is approximately as wide as the depth of the endflanges l4 and has only its ends secured to the end flanges. The end ofeach strip 3i extends around the end of the corresponding flangeextension IT and is impaled on the spur I8 thereon, as shown in Figure2, thus securing the strip ends between the flange extensions and theside flanges I3. The strip ends may be tapered in width, as showninFigure 1, or generally narrower than the intermediate portion of thestrip in order to conceal the ends completely behind the flangeextensions Il.

Before the component parts of the backing member II are assembled, theflange extensions N form straight continuations of the end flanges I4,as shown in Figure 1. Prior to affixing the bindingstrips in place, theextensions H are bent out of line from the side flanges I3 and into theangular position'shown on the left side of Figure 2. The strips 3! arethen positioned over'the'end flanges and the strip ends folded aroundthe flange extensions I'l and impaled on the spurs I8. After the blockI6 has been fitted into the cavity I5, the flange extensions I'I'arebent back and folded against the outerface of the side flanges I3. Thisfolding of the extensions I'I causes the spurs It to pass through theopenings I9 and penetrate the block I6 to-retain the latter in thecavity I5. At the same time, the strips 3| are stretched with uniformtension tightly across the outer face of the end flanges 14 for apurpose later described.

The pad assembly I!) is detachably-assembled on the backing member byinserting the tabs 29 between the binding strips 3| and the underlyingend fianges I4, as shown in'Figure 2; The tightness of the strips andtheir friction against the tabs is sufficientto retain the pad inworking position when the entire implement is raised from the floor.

In use, a quantity of the liquid cleaning material, with whichthe'implement is intended to be used, is applied'to an area of thefloor. The implement isthen pushed'back and forth over the surface ofthe area to be cleaned. The steel wool spreads the cleaningmaterialevenly over the surface, and'at the same time, gently abradesand'loosens the surface dirt an'd'other foreign matter. Because thesteel wool is substantially self-cleaning in the presence of the solventcomponent of the cleaning composition, completion of the simultaneousspreading and cleaning operation usually leaves a thin film of thecleaning material plus loosened dirt on the floor. The dirt and excesscleaning composition easily may be removed by wiping the area with a ragor other suitable waste placed under the implement. This subsequentoperation does not aim to dry the floor completely, but to leave some ofthe cleaning composition thereon in order to obtain the benefit of thewax content of the composition. After the floor is dry, the wax filmremaining thereon may be lightly polished with the implement using a drysteel wool pad. This final operation imparts a glossy sheen to thesurface of the floor.

While the implement has been described as of marked value in the manualcleaning of floors, it also possesses superior characteristics for theapplication of floor seals, waxes, and other nonaqueous finishing andmaintenance materials to floors. In addition, the implement has beenfound to be effective for polishing waxed floors.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to a specificembodiment, various changes will be apparent to a person skilled in theart. Therefore, the invention embraces all modifications that comewithin the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A floor cleaning implement comprising: a substantially fiat rigidmember having depending peripheral flanges to provide a cavitytherebeneath; a handle attaching means pivotally secured to the back ofsaid member; a substantially flat block of stiff fibrous cushioningmaterial secured in said cavity, said block being of a thickness whichapproximates the depth of said cavity; and a flat pad of metallic wooldetachably secured to said member in overlying engagement with the outerface of said block, the fibrous and cushioning characteristics of saidblock providing the outer face thereof with a rough yielding surface forinterengagement of the filaments of said pad therewith oversubstantially the entire area of contact therebetween, whereby relativeslipping between the wool of said pad and the outer face of said blockis prevented and the wool of said pad is prevented from rolling up inuse. Y

2. A floor cleaning implement comprising: a substantially fiat rigidmember having a handle pivotally secured to the back thereof formovement in a plane normal thereto; a substantially fiat block ofcushioning fiberboard secured on the under side of said member, and aflat pad of metallic wool detachably secured to said member in overlyingengagement with the outer face of said block, said pad having at leastone working layer of wool, the filaments of said layer being arrangedgenerally in parallelism and extending substantially parallel to theplane of pivotal movement of said handle, the fibrous and cushioningcharacteristics of said block providing the outer face thereof with arough yielding surface for interengagement of the filaments of said padtherewith over substantially the entire area of contact therebetween,whereby relative slipping between the wool of said pad and the outerface of said block is prevented and the wool of said pad is preventedfrom rolling up in use.

3. A floor cleaning implement comprising: a

substantially rectangular rigid plate-like member having depending sideand end flanges to form a cavity therebeneath; a handle secured to theback of said member for pivotal movement in a longitudinal plane; ablock of cushioning fiberboard secured in said cavity, said block beingof a thickness at leastas great as the depth of said cavity; and asubstantially rectangular flat pad of metallic wool detachably securedto said member in overlying frictional engagement with the outer face ofsaid block, said pad having at least one working layer of wool, thefilaments of said layer being arranged generally in parallelism andextending substantially longitudinall of said member, the fibrous andcushioning characteristics of said block providing the outer facethereof with a rough yielding surface for interengagement of thefilaments of said pad therewith over substantially the entire area ofcontact therebetween, whereby relative slipping between the wool of saidpad and the outer face of said block is prevented and the wool of saidpad is prevented from rolling up in use.

4. In a floor cleaning implement having a pad of metallic wooldetachably secured to the under surface of a handled backing element,said backing element comprising: a rigid plate-like member havingdepending separate peripheral flanges to form a cavity therebeneath,said flanges being arranged in opposite pairs; deformable flangeextensions on both ends of the flanges of one of said pairs; a lateralspur on the inner side of each said flange extensions; a block ofcushioning fiberboard fitted in said cavity, said block being of athickness approximately the same as the depth of said cavity, saidflange extensions being disposed flat against the outer faces ofadjacent said peripheral flanges with said spurs extending therethroughand into penetrating and retaining engagement with said block.

5. A floor cleaning implement comprising: a substantially rectangularsheet metal member having depending separate side flanges to form acavity therebeneath, deformable flange extensions on both ends of theflanges of one opposite pair of said flanges; a spur on the inner sideof each said flange extensions; a block of cushioning fiberboard fittedin said cavity, said block being of a thickness at least as great as thedepth of said cavity, said flange extensions bein disposed flatagainstthe outer faces of the other pair of said side flanges with saidspurs extending therethrough and into penetrating and retainingengagement with said block; and a pad of metallic wool detachablysecured to said member in overlying frictional engagement with the outerface of said block.

6. In a floor cleaning implement having a pad of metallic wool, providedwith binding means to stiffen opposite edges thereof, detachably securedto the unler surface of a backing element, said backing elementcomprising: a rigid platelike sheet metal member having dependingseparate peripheral flanges that form a cavity beneath said member, saidflanges being arranged in opposite pairs; deformable flange extensionson both ends of the flanges of one said pairs; a spur on the inner sideof each said flange extensions; a block of cushioning fiberboard fittedin said cavity, said block being of a thickness at least as great as thedepth of said cavity; and a flexible strip of non-metallic materialoverlying the outer face of each flange of said one pair with the endsof said strip extending; around the ends of the corresponding flangeextensions and secured to the spurs thereon, said extensions beingdisposed flat against the outer faces of adjacent, said peripheralflanges with said spurs extending therethrough and into penetrating andretaining engagement with said block, whereby the stiflfened edges. ofthe pad may be inserted between said strips and their underlying flangesto detachably; secure said pad to said member inoverlying frictionalengage,- ment with the outer face: ofsaid block;

7. The structure defined by claim 6, in which the end; portions; of theflexible strips which extend, behind the flange extensions are generallyof less width, than the intermediate portion of said strips.

8. The structure defined by claim 6 in which the-spurs are of arrowheadshape.

9. A floor cleaning implement comprising: a substantially rectangularsheet metal member having integral depending separate side and endflanges to form a cavity therebeneath; a handle secured to the back ofsaid member for pivotal movement in a longitudinal plane; deformableflange extensions on both ends of said end flanges; a spur on the, innerside of each said flange extensions; a block: of cushioning fiberboardfitted in said cavity, said block-being of a thickness at least as greatas the depth of said cavity; a flexible strip of non-metallic materialoverlying the outer face of each said end flanges with the ends of saidstrips extending around the ends ofthe corresponding said flangeextensions and impaled on the spurs thereon, said extensions beingdisposed flat against the outerfaces of said side flanges with saidspursextending therethrough and into penetrating and retainingengagement with said block; and a substantially rectangular pad ofmetallic wool in overlying frictional engagement with the outer face ofsaid block, said pad having binding means to stiffen the end edgesthereof, and said edges being inserted between said strips and theirunderlying flanges to detachably secure said pad to said member.

10. In a floor cleaning implement having a pad of metallic wool,provided with binding meansto stiffen opposite edges thereof,- detach.-ably secured to the under surface of a backing element, said backingelement comprising: a rigid plate-like sheet metal member havingdepending separate peripheral flanges that form. a cavity beneath saidmember, said flanges being arranged in opposite. pairs; deformableflange extensions on both ends of the flanges of one of said pairs; aspur on the inner side of each said flange extensions; a block ofcushioning fiberboardsecured in said cavity, said blockbe ing of1athickness at least as great as the depth of said cavity; and a flexiblestrip of non-metallic material overlying the, outer face of each flangeof saidone pair with the ends of said strips extending around the endsof the correspondin flange extensions, secured to. the spurs thereon andsaid extensions being disposed flat against the outer faces of adjacentsaid peripheral flanges with said spurs extending therethrough, wherebythe stiffened edges of the. pad may be. inserted between. said stripsand their underlying flanges to detachably secure said pad to saidmember in overlying frictional engagement with the outer face of saidblock.

11. A floor cleaning. implement comprising: a substantially rectangularsheet metal member having integral dependin separate side-and endflanges to form a cavity therebeneath; a handle securedto the back ofsaid member for pivotal movement in a longitudinal plane; deformableflange extensions on both ends of said end flanges; a spur on the innerside of each said flange extensions; a block of cushioning fiberboardsecured in, said cavity, said block being of a thickness approximatingthe depth of said cavity; a flexible strip of non-metallic materialoverlying the outer face of each said end flanges with the ends of saidstrips extending around the ends of the corresponding said flangeextensions and impaled on the spurs thereon, said. extensions beingdisposed flat againstv the outer faces of. said side flanges withsaidspurs extending therethrough; and a substantially rectangular pad ofmetallic wool in overlying frictional engagement with the outer face ofsaid block, said pad having binding means to stiffen the end edgesthereof, and said edges being inserted between said strips and theirunderlying flanges to detachably secure said pad to said member.

EVAN L. FELLMAN. WALTER G. STEWART, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stetson Dec. 8,

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,500,841 March 14, 1950 EVAN L.FELLMAN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 2, line 43, for the word becomes read become; column 6, line 62,for

unler read under; column 8, line 7, before secured insert and; line 8,for thereon and read thereon and that the said Letters Patent should beread with these corrections therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of June, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

